Salone del Mobile.Milano 2018 is approaching fast and you must mark the dates in you agenda, April 17-22, 2018. The term Milan Design Week 2018 is used to define the events and exhibitions that animate the entire city of Milan during the weeklong “Salone del Mobile.Milano” happening in April. Unlike any other design event in the world, Milan Design Week is the undisputed ‘must see’ for anyone interested in design.

Let’s start with a small presentation of Salone del Mobile.Milano! This event will be held from 17th to 22nd April with a packed programme of innovations and appointments for the more than 300,000 expected visitors from over 165 different countries.

More than 2,000 exhibitors will be ranged over an exhibition area covering more than 200,000 m2, presenting outstanding products and solutions for contemporary living with an informed eye to the future and which combine design, technology, flexibility and sustainability.

The Salone Internazionale del Mobile or ISaloni is held concurrently with the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition, split into the following style categories: Classic: Tradition in the Future, which draws on the values of tradition, craftsmanship and skill in the art of making furniture and objects in the classic style; Design, products that speak of functionality, innovation and boast a great sense of style and xLux, the section devoted to timeless luxury re-read in a contemporary key.

This edition marks the return of the biennial events EuroCucina /FTK (Technology For the Kitchen) and the International Bathroom Exhibition, which take place in even years. As always, the exhibits at EuroCucina and FTK (Technology For the Kitchen) will determine the trends and spark inspiration: tomorrow’s kitchen will be an interconnected, multipurpose and professional place, yet one where emotions never fail to run high.

Similarly, the International Bathroom Exhibition will showcase a wide range of extremely high-end goods, responding to the increasingly pressing demand for excellent performance with an eye to relaxation. If you love bathrooms or kitchens, the EuroCucina /FTK (Technology For the Kitchen) and the International Bathroom Exhibition are the events for you!

To better explain this year’s edition of Salone Internazionale del Mobile, a press conference was held in Milano by this event’s Organization! Beppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, and Carlo Luti, President of the same Salone del Mobile were the leaders of this conference that produce the Design Manifesto of this year’ edition.

This manifesto says that Salone del Mobile is based on eight pivotal points that work as a compass to sublimate the commercial event in the bridgehead of the whole innovation system of the city. Those who are looking for historical anticipations, brilliant intuitions or brilliant inventions by copywriters would be disappointed. Because the values of Enterprise, Quality, Project, System, Youth, Communication, Culture, Milan At the Center that are the cornerstones of the Manifesto are not aimed at upsetting the foundations of the system, but only want to promote its virtuous action by imposing the lovemark Salone as an effective experience that works better and better than others.

Looking for the text that accompanies every value, to emerge is an invitation to work on the cohesion of the system, its many protagonists and above all the city that is at the base of the Salone itself. A point of reference has to do with sustainability, already announced by the Manifesto under the heading of Quality and which is expressed in the proposal of one of the most innovative and technological architects of the international scene, Carlo Ratti.

From April 17th to 29th, in Piazza del Duomo in front of Palazzo Reale, an installation dedicated to the relationship between nature and living will take place which also wants to break the line between Salone and Fuorisalone, bringing for the first time some of the institutional fair in the city. For the rest, all that remains is to wait for the proposals of over 2000 exhibitors, who are looking forward to the over 300,000 international visitors estimated for this 57th edition.

And amongst those exhibitors, you’ll find some pristine luxury brands form the furniture industry, namely the illustrious brands from Covet Group: Boca do Lobo,Brabbu, DelightFULL, Essential Home, PullCast, Luxxu, Maison Valentina and Circu! After a strong showing at Maison et Objet 2018 in Paris, the Covet Group aims to make a strong and luxurious splash at this Milanese event! After what they showcased in Paris, we bet that they will bring their A-Game to another Top Event of the year!

Joining the likes of Boca do Lobo and DelightFull at Salone del Mobile.Milano we’ll have other powerful brands, but we are going to pay close attention to the Italian brands that traditional have a strong showing at ISaloni. Fendi Casa, B&B Italia, Missoni Home, CasaMilano, Sahrai Milano or Terzani are likely to cause a strong impact!

As one of the Design Capitals of Europe, Milan has more events happening during the Milan Design Week besides the Salone del Mobile.Milano. A sort of Sister Event of ISaloni is the “Fuorisalone”, a term that’s used to define the events and exhibitions that animate the entire city of Milan during Milan’s Design Week.

During the Fuorisalone, many of the stunning design places in Milan will feature longer opening hours. It’s expected that the most important brands located in the design districts of Milan will introduce their new collections and host special events with live music and entertainment for a totally unmissable extravaganza.

Although the events are usually scattered throughout the city, the Fuorisalone recognizes a series of main districts, namely Porta Venezia, San Babila, Tortona, The 5 Vie, Sant’Ambrogio or San Gregorio. During the Fuorisalone, these districts take center stage with an abundance of events including DJ sets, exhibitions and performances hosted at various locations across the city, comprising former industrial spaces, ateliers, artisanal workshops, ‘botteghe’ and the showrooms of big-name brands.

In the early 2000s if you said Fuorisalone you meant SuperStudio and Tortona. Today this district is the showcase of the biggest names from the design industry. In 2017, the Tortona Design District has played its trump cards: Base Milano, a new multifunctional venue, located at the former industrial Ansaldo complex, that in 2017 hosted exhibitions and projects dedicated to the theme of nomadic living, with portable, floating houses, user-friendly objects and itinerant structures. Base Milano will return in 2018 with more novelties and exhibitions! If you visit Tortona you must stop by Base Milano, but you can’t skip the SuperStudio.

In 2017, the Ventura Lambrate district was split into two with the inauguration of aspace located in the underground tunnels of the Central Railway Station (Ventura Centrale, 116). It is reasonable to think that during the Fuorisalone 2018 it will develop and give life to a brand new design district.

For a more artsy feel, you must stop by the artsiest neighborhood of Milan: Brera. With its narrow and cobbled streets, Brera boasts a dense concentration of antique shops, galleries, showrooms and prestigious locations. During the Fuorisalone, Brera offers a high-profile events calendar, featuring several of the world’s most prestigious brands, and focuses on attracting a design savvy, culturally oriented public. We believe da the locations at Brera won’t disappoint this year and will once again provide design and entertainment in abundance!

If you want to skip tradition and try something new, then you should stop by the Isola Design District. It was presented at the 2017 edition of Fuorisalone and attracted a lot of positive feedback. It’s a new hub for design and creativity right under the shade of the Milanese skyscrapers and the Bosco Verticale. We’ll have to wait and see for Isola’s proposals for this year’s Fuorisalone.

This is the basis of what you can expect from ISaloni 2018 and of the Milan Design Week. These events are the reason why young and talented designers from all over the world will pack their bags their innovative creations and will travel to Milan to showcase their prototypes to the curious crowd and important buyers who visit the districts talent-scouting for great ideas. We hope to see a great design showcase in all of the Milan Design Week events in 2018!